Just when Alex thought his life was calming down into a routine of patients and therapy sessions, he finds himself back in the game--this time to catch a criminal mastermind like no other.

A spate of elaborate murders in Washington D.C. have the whole East Coast on edge. They are like nothing Alex Cross and his new girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, have ever seen. With each murder, the case becomes increasingly complex. There's only one thing Alex knows: the killer adores an audience.

As victims are made into gruesome spectacles citywide, inducing a media hysteria, it becomes clear to Alex that the man he's after is a genius of terror--and he's after fame. The killer has the whole city by its strings--and he'll stop at nothing to become the most terrifying star that Washington D.C. has ever seen.

Customer Reviews:

Don't waste your timeI can't get the minutes back from my life everytime I read this book. Alex Cross use to be fun to read. I'm through with Patterson. In fact, now I know why he has other authors to write his books. I'm not going to waste my time reading the next book in the series. ...more info

Alex Cross Double CrossThe book that I purchased from Acme under Amazon, Alex Cross, Double Cross was horrible. EVERY PAGE HAD PENCIL UNDERLINE on it in sections. The person also subtracted the number of pages read and wrote the answer at the beginning of each chapter. I will never order a book from ACME again....more info

A gripper from the get-go!I'm only on page 71 and can't put it down! Alex Cross is a great character and James Patterson writes him well. A must read for the Alex Cross or JP fan!...more info

awesomeAfter 10 years of not reading any fiction books, I picked this up. I read James Patterson's first 4 books or so way back. I wasn't disappointed with Double Cross. This is a great thriller and I enjoyed the setting in Washington DC. The ending was a surprise and believable. ...more info

Another 2 day read.....at most....Typical Patterson, enjoyable, disturbing, etc....Love Alex Cross so I will continue to read his saga and enjoy. However, after the first 2 A.C. books, nothing compares. This is light, fast, very short chapters and really just ends too quickly........more info

Perfect PattersonI think all Patterson fans would agree: This is not great literature, nor is it meant to be. That having been said, what's better than settling down on a cold winter's night, fastening one's reading seatbelt and taking off on a fast and furious Alex Cross mystery?

Double Cross is one of the best in the long series. Here, we meet one of Cross's all-time nemeses, Kyle Craig, the Mastermind, who is locked down in a maximum security prison from which nobody has ever escaped. Ahem. Guess again. Not only is Craig planning the escape of a lifetime, but he has some sort of counterpart on the outside: a horrible psychopath dubbed the Audience Killer.

Between horrific murders by the Audience Killer and the dual threat of Kyle Craig (again!!!) Alex is of course lured from his cozy world of private practice and right back into the frey. Are you surprised?

Mama Nana, Sampson, the kids, and all our favorites are in this book, as well as Alex's newest love interest. All in all, it's fun, fast, and completely satisfying....more info

BoringThe same old story told over and over again. the jailbreak was ridiculous and the murderers are still alive, so you know they will be featured in the next book. Luckily I didn't buy the book and got it from the library....more info

Not as good as his othersThe Alex Cross series is not meant to be highbrow literature, it is meant to be a page-turning, rollicking ride - enjoyable, but forgettable. Whilst Patterson has still delivered an enjoyable read, I think it is largely due to the great cast of characters that he has created, not to do with the actual plot of this story, which is not as good as some of his others (eg Pop Goes The Weasel, Roses are Red etc).
This story flits back and forth between perspectives, Cross' and the baddies'. During the chapters narrated by the latter, the story loses momentum, and can become bogged down and even sometimes confusing (which is not what one wants from a popcorn book). Still, Alex Cross has the same great, ballsy attitude that keeps on bringing me back time and again.
My main quibble is the frequent sexual innuendo and soft-core pornographic elements. At times through out the book, it felt as though Patterson was looking for any opportunity to his readers cringe at the incessant sexual activity - not because of its existence per se, but because of the incredible, blunt corniness (seriously, he wants to use his 'lightsabre' to penetrate his girlfriend 'good and deep'? Really? Patterson needs to do a stint writing at Penthouse to get this stuff out of his system, then return to the Cross of old).
Overall, it is still an entertaining read compared to many books out there, but not as great as some of the other Cross ouvre - fluffy, forgettable, but fun....more info

Not his bestThis is not James Patterson's best effort. The jail break is just ludicrous. Considering Alex Cross is so bright, why didn't he realize who the killer was in the first 50 pages like I did? I will however continue to read books by James Patterson, they're always fast reads so even if they're not that great you haven't invested a whole lot of time....more info

Not his best workDouble Cross (Alex Cross Novels)
I have read all of this series, my boyfriend got me hooked on them. He is an excellent writer, however I do not enjoy reading a book that has this much violence in it. Yes, I'm sure these situations exist, but I read to escape the stresses and horrors of everyday life not be immersed in it as this book does. The story is not that plausible for a real detective either and I found myself reading and saying oh come on, that wouldn't happen in real life. He has reached too far on this one and I won't be buying another in this series if it has the same type of violence that this once contains. ...more info

Not my favorite Alex Cross mysteryIn my opinion, Double Cross left a lot to be desired.

I love Alex Cross, and my favorite will always be Kiss the Girls, but I still enjoy reading the series whenever a new book comes out.

This book just wasn't very exciting. The Cross family was really left out of this one, as they seemed to want to put a lot of the focus on the new love interest, Bree Stone, who I did not find to be likeable in the least.

It was worth reading, but not up to Mr. Patterson's usual standards when it comes to Alex Cross....more info

I love Alex CrossAlex Cross is a great character. However, Morgan Freeman is the only man I can see as Alex Cross. This is another in a good series of the Alex Cross saga....more info

Don't waste your money or time on this one.What is wrong with Patterson? I have enjoyed all of his books and looked forward to reading news ones. But now he is going down hill and his books are written horribly. ...more info

A little disappointedAfter the "hype" about James Patterson's novels, I expected a bit more depth in the story. I think this plot was a little far-fetched. Not one of my best reads....more info

Starts SlowlyThis book starts painfully slowly, but starts to heat about half way into it. Has tons of action in the last half, but the ending was way too open ended. Like, there was sort of 2 endings, to the two stories being told. One was very dissapointing considering the build up to it, while the other could have been removed all together. The Kyle Craig story line is totally pointless in this book and could have been saved for another book that uses him as a focal point. But overall its worth a read and in not linked to Cross at all so not a mandatory preread. ...more info

Brand New ConditionThe book is in brand new condition, arrived before I expected it to. All of James Patterson's books are great....more info

How Much More Can Patterson and Cross Take? Alex Cross has faced some of the most heinous murderers imaginable and this time around he must face two. A new monster has taken center stage as he has made killing a spectacle by murdering his victims in crowded, public places. As if the Audience Killer wasn't enough of a nightmare, it seems the deadly Mastermind (Kyle Craig) himself has escaped from prison and is on the hunt again. Alex Cross has hands full this time and it will take every ounce of skill and luck he can muster to stop these deadly killers.

Double Cross is certainly not the best Alex Cross novel James Patterson has written, but there is still plenty here to satisfy his rabid fans. Alex Cross himself is Patterson's most intriguing and beloved character and once again you can't help but find yourself immersed in his passion for justice. The tension Cross feels between family and duty always adds a dose of relevancy to the story drawing us even further in. The villains here are as nasty as ever, and the Audience Killer murder scenes are especially frightening and disturbing. Kyle Craig's return at first felt like a bit of a stretch to me, but I was surprised at how much I bought into this plot element as the story progressed.

As this series continues on I can't help but wonder how much more both Alex Cross and James Patterson can take. Admittedly, Patterson always finds a way to bring me back and I'm eager once again for the next installment. Let's just hope Patterson can continue to find ways to breathe new life into this fan favorite character.
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My First Alex Cross bookThis was my first James Patterson and/or Alex Cross book and I was very disappointed. I found the story line contrived and there were just too many unanswered questions about how and why things happened. I also felt the connection between the two separate killers was very weak.

Also, like one reviewer said earlier, it really bothered me when Cross and his girlfriend took off to Montana leaving his family unprotected KNOWING this guy had escaped and had pledged to get revenge on Cross. When they announced they were going to Montana, my very first thought was "Why on earth would he leave his family unprotected NOW?"

Another Patterson winnerBought Cross and Double Cross at the same time and finished them both over a week of vacation time. Very easy reads and always a page turner....more info

Cross keeps getting pulled back inAlex Cross has been trying to live a more stable life for his children, and for his mental health. However, when a twisted killer - the Audience Killer - who lives for the attention granted by his killings starts to stalk the city, Alex is drawn back in. This killer stages his killings as a macabre form of public amusement both at the scene and on a website and taunts the police with his success.

In Colorado, Kyle Craig has plotted for years in order to set up a complex escape plan. Craig wants one thing - to get back at Alex Cross, the man who put him away. And if he needs to join forces with the Audience Killer to do this, that's just fine with him.

Can Alex solve the crimes in time to save himself, and his family? A thriller that will keep you turning the pages. Don't miss it!...more info

liked iti thought the book was good, i did not have to skip over a bunch of useless information like in so many books i read, but i did skip over some. it was just good..but i can not say it was bad as i read the whole book . ...more info

I'm addicted...So, I'm addicted to James Patterson. There are many mystery writers who are better, and some who are a lot worse. With Patterson, at least you know that you'll get a fast-paced, action-filled book without a lot of tedious and long-winded descriptions. Patterson cuts right to the chase in Double Cross, his 13th book in his Alex Cross series.

Dr. Alex Cross is no longer working law enforcement. Instead, he's back to private practice and seeing patients. He is also dating senior homicide detective, Brianna Stone, a rising star in the DC Metro Police. While on a camping trip, Stone gets called to a murder scene. A best-selling mystery writer, Tess Olsen, was brutally murdered in front of a large audience. The killer is a serial killer and leaves a message for Dr. Cross. Cross comes back on board with DC Metro on a part-time basis to deal with this case. Within days, the killer strikes again--this time during a performance at Lincoln Center. Stone, Cross, the Metro and the FBI all work around the clock, trying to stop this monster (now dubbed The Audience Killer) before he strikes again. But to make matters even more complicated, former Cross friend and FBI agent-turned serial killer, Kyle Craig, is somehow involved. Are these two working together? Are they competing against each other? The only definite is that they both have their sights on Dr. Cross.

In Double Cross, we get to see the growing importance of using the internet and especially, blog sites, to catch criminals. It's amazing that an FBI agent sitting in front of a computer can be just as important as those in the field.

Alex Cross at his best! Alex Cross, that lovable sleuth does it again. In this exiting edition, Alex has a new romance, but old enemies threaten to take her away. With many familiar characters and danger on every page, this is one of my favorite Cross books yet! A must read. Highly recommended. S.L. Chessor, author of Poodlums, Boogeymen and Booglers and My Tongue Fell Out. Poodlums, Boogeymen and Booglers: A Poetry Collection
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DisappointingI've been huge fan of the Alex Cross books since I first started reading them a few years ago. James Patterson put a lof of thought and effort into them. I'm sure I was not the only one that got hooked. This book was not the same for me. It seemed like Patterson got distracted at the end of this book and just wrote a quick, crappy ending. It was good up until the last 40 pages or so. I would recommend reading this book if you've read the rest of the series, just to keep up since it is a quick read. If you're not familiar with the series, start at the beggining, it'll be a better use of your time....more info

Why is this guy so popular?Why does this guy sell so many books??? Written at a third grade reading level, huge holes in the plot and absolutely moronic, unbelievable story lines ( a master criminal escapes from a max security prison by changing clothes with his lawyer and wearing a rubber mask, not to mention the lawyer's long ponytail that somehow is not a problem for the disguise that fools all the guards) Please, read a good writer like Lee Child,Michal Connelly, James Lee Burke ............. ...more info

james patterson double crossI love to read James Patterson's book and Double Cross was a real good read. There were good twists and turns to keep your attention. I read this book in about a week. Craigs return was nice. And I really liked the Alex was working again with his old partner, John Sampson. But yet again Alex has yet another girlfriend. I'm not fond of the so called love side of his stories. They get rude when he explains the way he's turned on. Other than that when it got to the chase of the bad guys it was really good....more info

Severe lack of plot and twists to keep you going...Let me first say that I am usually a big James Patterson fan. Judge & Jury, Lifeguard, and The Quickie were much, much better than this, simply because of the plot developments and unexpected twists. This novel can essentially be summed up by the following outline.

Murder
Detectives are clueless
Murder
Detectives continue to be clueless
Murder
Detectives still have absolutely no leads and keep talking about how they have no leads
Murder
Detectives get an obscure lead that turns out to essentially be crap
Detectives are captured themselves
Detectives escape, capture one bad guy, allow the other bad guy to escape.

THE END

What turned me off about this book that usually keeps me going in the other novels is the lack of plot and suspense. The fact that the detectives have no leads or clues at all for about 90% of the book just leaves me bored! For something like that, Judge & Jury is definitely the way to go, a 5-Star!

Same old, same oldPatterson is getting lazy. This book was just the same stuff over and over again. I knew what was going to happen and how it was going to end by the 20th page, because Patterson keeps doing the same thing. For real. How many times is he going to let the same villain get away again so he can use him in his next book. Don't waste your time on this one. ...more info